Multiple wall attachment element



Aug. 16, 1960 R. J. LAURETI MULTIPLE WALL ATTACHMENT ELEMENT Filed Jan. 25. 1957 INVEN TOR. Remo J. l aurezz BY Ag g ORNBY MULTIPLE WALL ATTACHMENT ELEMENT Remo J. Laureti, Stow, Ohio, assigner to Goodyear Aircraft Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 636,299

3 Claims. (Cl. 244-127) This invention relates to an attachment element made of woven fabric for connecting, for example, a plurality and usually at least three sheets of a non-rigid airship envelope along a common intersecting line and is 'an improvement over the construction shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,710,157, issued to W. C. Johnson et al.

In this patent the attachment element of double-Y shape is made of single pieces of cord of angular conkiguration intersecting each other and laid side by side over a central strand and connected with each other by rubber to form pairs of attachment strips for the sheets to be united. On the other hand, the construction, according to the present invention is made of fabric woven around a exible core means and having a continuous filler cord means forming a multiply cloth of desired width extending from the core means in dilferent directions to provide pairs of adjacent attachment strips for each of the sheets of fabric to be connected. This construction has the advantage of having greater longitudinal strength, because the transverse iiller cord means are interwoven with longitudinal strand means and thus are prevented from separating. There is also the advantage that the attachment element can be woven on standard looms instead of requiring a special machine.

It is the general object of the invention to provide an attachment of the type described which is characterized by greater longitudinal strength, and simplicity of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to avoid uniting the cords by rubbenmand ease Vofuassembling the sheets to be united.Y f f '.[hefaforesaid objects ofthe invention, and other objects which will become apparentas the description proceeds, are achieved by providing an attachment for securing a plurality of flexible sheet mem-bers together longitudinally with the members extending at diiferent angles from a common axis, the attachment comprising ilexible core means positioned substantially at the common axis, a plurality of flexible strand means extending longitudinally of the attachment and substantially parallel to thecore means, said strand means dening a plurality of planes equal to twice the number of sheet members to be joined whereby each pair of planes receives a sheet member therebetween, and exible cord means extending in a lateral direction in woven relation with the strand means in the various planes and with the core means. More specifically, three pairs of planes are usually provided dening substantially a T-shape in cross section (see Fig. l) wherein the cord means from the leg of the T extend below the core means and from the flatly V- shaped cross bar of the T extend above the core means,

' as hereinafter more particularly described.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawingwherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention showing the fabric plies of the attachment element in the position as used;

l.nited States. Patc'nt Patented Aug. 16, 1960 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a short length of the attachment element after weaving;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the various plies or planes partly unfolded;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the element after weaving;

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically a weaving pattern of the filler cord means from one ply to the other plies for one complete cycle;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4 for a single-Y attachment;

Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically a weaving pattern for the single-Y attachment, and l Fig. 8 illustrates a fractional perspective view of an airship envelope incorporating the invention.

With reference to the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, as shown in Fig. l, the numeral 1 indicates in general a multiply attachment made of woven fabric, having a generally T-shape in section, including the plies 2f', 3 and 4 interwoven with each other around a ilexible core means 5, for example, a nylon cord, and extending therefrom in radial directions to form pairs of attachment strips or planes between of which the fabric sheet members 6 and 7 of an airship envelope are adapted to be inserted and cemented thereto. It can be said that plies 4 form the leg of the T and plies 2 and 3 the flatly V-shaped cross bar of the T.

In Fig. 2 is shown the attachment 1 with the plies 2, 3 and 4 lying upon each other as when leaving the weaving loom. -Each ply has a plurality of longitudinally extending ilexible strand means 9 positioned parallel to the core means 5. The exible iiller cord means 8 is interwoven with the strand means 9 and is of continuous length running through all three plies in such a way that the portions thereof in the plies 2 and 3 pass below core 5 and portions of ply 4 pass above core 5'.

This arrangement is most suitable for airship envelopes, as shown in Fig. 8, in which the stresses in the cover members 6 of the envelope are much greater than in a load carrying catenary curtain 7 causing such stresses. Fig. i4 a-gain, shows diagrammatically a cross-section of the attachment 1 in folded position with the iiller cord means 8 of the plies 2 and 3 passing below the core 5 and those of ply 4 above the core 5. The diagram, Fig. 5, illustrates in detail, in full lines and by arrows, a completeweaving cycle of the continuous iller cord 8 passing through all'three plies in twenty stages. Beginning at stage '1,"theffiller cord 8 crosses the full width of ply 4 above core 5, returns, stage 2 the same way above coi-re 5 as far as and above core 5 and from there changes its course into ply 3 which, at stage 3, is completely crossed below core 5. At stage 4, the iiller cord returns in ply 3 as far and below core 5 and from there continues in ply 2 to cross, at stage 5, the full width of ply 2 below core 5, etc., until all twenty stages have been passed to complete a full weaving cycle to be repeated over and over again to obtain a desired length of the attachment 1. By leading the iller cord of both, ply 2 and 3, to which the envelope sheets 6 are attached, below core `S, the greatest strength for the support of the load carrying catenary curtain 7 is obtained.

It will be recognized that in the form of the invention shown and described the portions of plies 2 and 3 lying to one side of core 5 form one pair of plies positioned in planes to receive the edge of sheet 6, the ply 4 is bent about core 5 to define a second pair of plies positioned in planes to receive the edge of sheet 7, and the remaining portions of plies 2 and 3 to the opposite side of core 5 form a third pair of plies positioned in planes to receive the edge of a second sheet 6. As best seen in Fig. 4 the lateral edges of the several plies are preferably at different distances from the core means 5 to of a single Y, including the fabric strips 2.223%, and 4H,

interwoven with each other and with the liexible core 5a. Such simplified construction may be used 4advantageously for certain conditions under which it is sufficient to cement to the attachment onlyone side of the edge of each of the sheets to be united. A weaving pattern for the single-Y attachment is shown in Fig. 7 which in unfolded position indicates in full lines and by arrows the eight stages of how the iller cord runs during a whole cycle of weaving to be repeated over and over for producing a desired length of the attachment. lt should be understood that the weaving patterns, Figs. 5 and 7, are shown only by example as most preferable but that many other patterns could be used, depending on the special requirement and purpose of the attachment. For example various combinations and ratios of filler cord means and strand means may be used.

Although the invention is primarily concerned with an attachment for joining the edges of three sheets, as in an airship, the principles thereof can also be used to provide attachments for joining a greater number of sheets.

ln Fig. 8 is shown one example of an application of the invention for a non-rigid airship envelope in which the attachment l joins two sheets 6 of the envelope with a catenary curtain 7 from which cables 10 are suspended to carry various loads such as power and control cars, not shown. This invention, however, shall not be restricted to the use in airships but may ind application in connecting not only fabrics walls, but also rigid walls for various structures.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A catenary curtain attachment for airship envelopes and the like, and including in combination a plurality of ilexible sheet members extending at desired angles between each other from a common axis, flexible core means positioned substantially at the common axis, a plurality of exible strand means extending substantially parallel to the core means, said strand means delining a plurality of planes equal to twice the number of sheet members joined whereby each pair of planes receives a sheet member therebetween, and exible cord means extending in a lateral direction from the core means and in woven relation with the strand means in the various planes, said cord means being endless and continuous and common to all planes and always extending from one plane of strand means to a position contacting the core means and to another plane of strand means, said attachment having a T-shape in cross section and wherein the cord means extending to and from the leg of the T extend over the core means and the cord means extending between opposite sides of the cross bar of the T extend below the core means.

2. A caternary curtain attachment for airship en! velopes and the like and including three ilexible sheet members extending at desired angles between each other from a common axis, iiexible core means positioned substantially at said common axis, strand means defining three pairs of planes whereby each pair of planes receives a sheet member therebetween, the planes in each of the three pairs of planes being designated 4, 4a; 3, 2; and 2u, 3a, and flexible cord means extending in a lateral direction with respect to the core means and in woven relation with the strand means in the various planes, said cord means extending from one pla-ne to another as follows: 4 to 4a, 4a to 3, 3 to 3a, 3a to 2, 2 to 2a, Zal to 3, 3 to 3a, 3a to 2, 2. to 2a, 2a to 4, 4to 4a, 4a to 2, Z to 2a, 2.a to 3, 3 to 3a, 3a to 2, 2 to 2a, 2a to 3, 3 to 3a, and 3a to 4, and then repeating the pattern.

3. A prefabricated longitudinal attachment suitable for uniting at least three sheets of fabric subject` to stress and tension and radiating in different directions from a common axis comprising ilexible core means positioned substantially at the common axis, a plurality of flexible strand means extending longitudinally of the attachment and substantially parallel to the core means, said strand means denin-g substantially a Tfshape in cross section and defining three pairs of planes equal to the number of sheets of fabric to be joined whereby each pair of planes receives a sheet of fabric therebetween, and flexible cord means extending in a lateral direction in woven relation with the strand means in the various planes and with the core means, and wherein the cord means to and from the leg of the T extend over the core means and from one side to the other of the flatly V-shaped cross bar of the T extend under the core means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,084,499 Newman June 22, 1937 Q,Z22,150 Moore Nov. 19, 1940 2,710,157 Johnson et al. June 7, 1955 

